Best Dual Fuel Generator Reviews

Are you looking for a top performing Dual Fuel generator that won’t break the bank? Well below are highlights of the top 5 best dual fuel generator reviews. We’ll go over the key features of each generator to help you make a quick informed buying decision. You can check out the full review for each generator by following the provided link.

Table of Best Dual Fuel Generator

Why choose a Dual Fuel Generator?

Dual fuel generators give you the ultimate power flexibility. Not only do they give you all the benefits that portable generators provide, but you can also use either gasoline or propane. This is ideal because both fuels have their advantages and disadvantages. Being able to use both, you can decide which fuel is more appropriate given the circumstances.

A key difference between gasoline and propane fuel is the storage requirement of each. Gasoline breaks down faster than propane and so generally needs to be used within a year. Propane on the other hand can be stored for years. If you own a hybrid fuel generator you can use this to your advantage. By stocking up on propane tanks, you can protect yourself against future power outages. You will always have that propane fuel in case such an event occurs. In the short term, you can still the generator with gasoline for any other requirements.

If you live in an area where weather events cause power outages regularly, you are better protected with a generator that can use propane. The reason is, when the power goes out service stations no longer have the power they need to pump gasoline. This makes getting gasoline during a power outage very difficult. Propane on the other hand can still be purchased regardless of the power grid status. It can even be delivered to your house.

1. DuroMax XP4400EH

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The DuroMax XP4400EH gives you the best of both worlds if you’re a fan of propane but also want the ubiquity of standard gasoline. It comes from DuroPower’s midrange series of generators and is a general purpose generator that can work as a standby in a home as well as a capable portable power unit on the road.

Besides its variable fuel inputs there’s a lot more that the XP4400EH offers.

Build

The XP4400EH measures 23.8 inches by 18 inches by 20 inches in length, width, and height. These measurements don’t account for the wheel kit though so the actual height with the wheel kit on is slightly more.

The engine is enclosed in a steel tubular frame that gives the unit the familiar classic generator look. Evidently this is a sturdy build that’s been tried and tested on hundreds of generator models over the years, mostly the conventional types.

Output & Runtime

The power source that drives the dual fuel XP4400EH is a beastly 208cc 7-horsepower 4-cycle air cooled engine that generates 4400 surge watts and 3500 running watts. With this amount of power you can comfortably run a host of home appliances including a mid-sized freezer or refrigerator, a sump pump, a mid-sized air conditioner, a microwave oven, and a furnace blower.In short the XP4400EH can comfortably get you through an emergency outage on a full tank of gas (4 gallons) for at least 4 hours at 100% load. You can double this runtime if you halve the load.

When running off of propane gas, you can get up to 20 hours of runtime at 50% load, according to the spec sheet.

Ease of Use & Noise Level

The control panel on this generator isn’t that great but it is practical. The outlets are well laid out and clearly marked, which allows novice users to find their way around the panel much easier.

For the outlets, there are 2 120V 20A 3-prong receptacles and a single 120V/240V 30A outlet. There’s a 12V DC outlet as well.The panel includes other switches and buttons for operating the generator including an off/on electric switch and a voltmeter.

For noise level, the XP4400EH is rated at 69 dBA measured from 7 feet. You can expect the generator to be noisier than this under heavier load.

DuroMax XP4400EH Summary

Pros

• Sufficient power for emergencies
• Electric start for increased convenience

Cons

• A tad heavy
• Runs loud

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2. Champion Power Equipment 76533

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Champion Power generators are some of the best in the value market. The newer Champion generators are taking the value proposition a notch higher by offering comparable features as their more expensive competitors but at a significantly lower price.

The Champion 76533 is one such example that offers a solid feature-set and a lot of power at a very affordable price.

Build

The 76533 measures 26.3 X by 24.8 X 22.9 inches (LxWxH) and weighs just a little less than 120 lbs. This is fairly compact but it’s not something you can easily toss around at will. In fact moving it around needs extra help but if you’re going to use it as a home standby generator then size and weight shouldn’t be of major concern.

Output & Runtime

The 76533 is capable of 4750 starting watts and 3800 running watts on gasoline (39.6A and 31.7A respectively at 120V). Just to understand what this kind of power can do, you can start and run a 15000 BTU air conditioner – which needs 3500 watts to start and 1500 while running – and you can also plug in a bunch of other appliances once the air conditioner is running.

At 50% load the 76533 gives 9 hours of runtime on gasoline and 10.5 hours on propane.

In short, the 76533 can comfortably fit in as a home standby generator when those crazy storms decide to knock out your grid power for strange reasons. If you’re running the generator on propane, you’ll get 4275 starting watts and 3420 running watts, which is 35.6A and 28.5A at 120V.

Ease of Use & Noise Level

The 76533 is fairly easy to operate. The control panel is neat and the buttons and outlets are clearly marked. In any case there’s a handy user manual to guide you in case of confusion.

The generator uses an electric start courtesy of a flip switch. There’s another switch for the battery and an LCD Intelligauge display where you can monitor the voltage and runtime.

The noise level rating is 68 dBA. This is loud but expected of a 3800-watt generator.

Champion Power Equipment 76533 Summary

Pros

• Enough power for essential home appliances
• Long runtime
• Ships with 0.6 quarts of oil. You can run unit right out of the box

Cons

• Output not safe for electronics
• Runs loud

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3. DuroMax  XP4850EH

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The XP4850EH is another great value unit from DuroPower. Like the XP4400EH, this model also gives you the luxury of choosing between propane and gasoline, ensuring that you never get caught off guard by an outage and have no fuel to run your generator.

Build

In terms of output the XP4850EH is bigger than its cousin the XP4400EH so it’s only obvious that it would be bigger in size as well.

The XP4850EH weighs 140 lbs and measures 36 inches by 24 inches by 24 inches. Evidently this is one huge piece of machinery but for a 4850-watt conventional generator, this size is perfectly within normal range.

Moreover, buyers in the value market segment aren’t primarily driven by size. They tend to focus on the power to dollar ratio they’re getting from a potential purchase.

In fact we didn’t come across any owner review that was critical of this generator’s size.

Output & Runtime

The XP4850EH generates 4850 watts at peak and 3850 watts at rated output and can run continuously for 8 hours at 50% load before refilling the gas tank. On propane gas the generator can run for up to 20 hours at 50% load. All this power is courtesy of a 7-HP 206 cc air cooled 4-stroke engine.

Ease of Use & Noise Level

A 4850-watt conventional generator is definitely going to be one loud beast and the XP4850EH is just that. If you purchase this generator, understand that noise is going to be part of its operation.  While there’s a built-in sound muffler, it’s basically useless under heavy loads so you might have to find other creative ways around the noise.

As for the actual operation, the XP4850EH is easy to use. The control panel is easily accessible on the side of the generator. It is equipped with a start/run/stop switch, a voltmeter, a circuit breaker, and the basic AC and DC outlets for plugging in your appliances.

DuroMax XP4850EH Summary

Pros

• Excellent value for money
• Highly versatile portable power for multiple situations

Cons

• Runs loud especially at bigger loads
• Slightly pricier than a comparable non-hybrid model

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4. Westinghouse WGen9500DF

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The Westinghouse WGen9500DF generator works hard and smart. The WGen9500DF is especially designed for crippling emergencies as it’s a dual fuel generator, which means that you will always be prepared provided you make it a point to keep a filled propane gas tank.

Build

To be frank the WGen9500DF is one heavy machine. AT 220 lbs, it’s the second heaviest generator on this list, but it’s not built to be moved around anyway. It is a standby unit that’s going to be stationary most of the time. It’s also got 10-inch wheels and a pair of flip-up handles in case you need to move it.

Output & Runtime

The WGen9500DF is capable of some humongous amount of power. It produces 12500 starting watts and 9500 running watts on gasoline, and 11220 and 8500 starting and running watts on propane respectively.

This is sufficient output for catering to most households during an outage. And on its 6.6 gallon gas tank, you get up to 9 hours of runtime at 50% load. This should give you adequate time to get your essentials in order as you wait for the grid supplied power to be restored.

Ease of Use & Noise Level

Like most conventional generators nowadays, the WGen9500DF is equipped with all the basic tools that help to make its operations smooth. An electric start ensures a hassle free startup process while a low-oil shutdown system protects from potential problems in case you forget to replenish the oil.

In addition, there’s a control panel equipped with all the basic outlets for home appliances and other power tools.

The rated noise level at full load is 72 dBA, which is undoubtedly very loud.

Smarter Tools WGen9500DF Summary

Pros

• Huge power potential
• Ideal generator for emergencies

Cons

• Runs very loud
• Very heavy and difficult to move

5. DuroMax XP10000EH

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The DuroMax XP10000EH is a massive power machine that’s perfectly suitable as a standby generator in any household. It’s also the perfect generator for small to medium job sites. With up to 10,000 watts of raw power you can be sure that your projects get completed without a hitch.

Build

The XP10000EH has a dry weight of 250 lbs and is easily the heaviest among the 5 ranked on this list. Evidently, it is not built for portability. It is built for high power generation at low cost.

The rest of the design is basically what you’d expect of a conventional mid-range generator: a cast iron sleeve engine in a tubular frame attached to a wheel kit with two stands for support. There’s also a pair of handles to make it easier to move the heavy machinery.

Output & Runtime

The XP10000EH is powered by a rugged 18 HP 4-stroke OHV engine that generates 10000 watts at peak and 8000 watts at rated output. This kind of output is sufficient for powering a medium sized household through any kind of power emergency.

On a full tank of gasoline (8.3 gallons) you can get up to 10 hours of continuous runtime at 50% load.

As for propane, the size of tank you attach determines how long the generator will run. Expect at least 12 hours of runtime at 50% load.

Ease of Use & Noise Level

The noise level rating on this unit is 70 dBA, so expect it to be pretty noisy when running. Of course things can get worse as the load increases. You may want to build some sound proofing around the unit if noise is a big issue for you.

The control panel is feature-packed and you get all the essential outlets you’d need to comfortably keep your home supplied with power.

And finally the XP10000EH is equipped with two startup methods: an electric start and a pull recoil system. In this case the latter is mostly used as a backup startup method in case the battery is down. Otherwise you should be using the hassle-free electric startup most of the time.

DuroMax XP10000EH  Summary

Pros

• Huge power production
• Great value for money

Cons

• Very heavy. Obviously not built for portability
• Very noisy

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Final Words

When making the final decision on your generator understand that you will not make a bad decision if you have read the above best Dual Fuel Generator reviews. We have done the hard work for you and out of the hundreds of Dual Fuel Generators available have selected the top machines for you.

At the end of the day it will come down to your requirements and budget.